International Crisis Group

Capt. Eitan Shmuel Lemberg, 21, was killed by a Hezbollah anti-tank missile in southern Lebanon, hours after Hezbollah formally rejected a US-brokered ceasefire accepted by Israel and Lebanon. The IDF struck Hezbollah infrastructure in response, while overnight strikes in Gaza killed senior Hamas security officials. The US Embassy in Jerusalem issued a security alert urging increased caution across the Middle East.

US and Iranian forces exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz late Thursday, with the US striking Qeshm port and Bandar Abbas after Iran attacked US Navy destroyers. President Trump called the US strikes a 'love tap' and insisted the ceasefire remains in effect, while Iran accused the US of violating the truce. The UAE reported intercepting a separate missile and drone attack early Friday. In Lebanon, the IDF confirmed killing Hezbollah Radwan commander Ahmed Ali Balout, and Hezbollah launched rockets and mortars at Israeli troops. Gaza ceasefire talks remain stalled over Hamas disarmament.